Deploying multiple e-commerce systems in a single computing platform

ABSTRACT

A method, system, architecture and apparatus for deploying multiple e-commerce systems in a single computing platform. In accordance with the present invention, an e-commerce systems architecture can include an instantiable owning business logic component derived from an abstract business definition and one or more instantiable business element components configured for aggregation under the control of a business facility instance. The business facility instance can include a coupling to an instance of the owning business logic component. Finally, the architecture can include an instantiable partner business component derived from the abstract business definition. In particular, the instantiable partner business component can include a configuration for limited access to selected ones of the instantiable business element components aggregated under the control of the business facility instance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to e-commerce systems deployment and moreparticularly to deploying e-commerce computing systems for differentbusiness operations in a host computing platform.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Business entities generally own assets and conduct or engage in variousbusiness activities relating to those assets. For example, a businessmay own inventory which the business may sell to end users. The businesssimilarly can maintain the inventory which the business can lease to endusers. In either case, the business can acquire the inventory fromsuppliers. To support these rudimentary business activities, a businesscan be organized as a set of business facilities, each such facilityhaving the responsibility for carrying out specific aspects of thebusiness activities. For example, a business may have several branchoffices, each office conducting core business activities in a specificgeographic region. Alternatively, a business may be partitioned intoseveral divisions, each division handling a specific set of businessactivities for a particular aspect of the market, for instance, awomen's clothing division and a men's clothing division. [Para 3] Themodern business enterprise can engage in multiple operations, eachhaving a discrete business purpose. As an example, a business enterprisecan include a selling operation, a distribution operation for supplyingthe selling operation with saleable product, and a fulfillment operationcharged with the fulfillment of customer orders. To support the variousoperations of the business, the business can include selling facilities,distribution facilities, and fulfillment facilities. Hence, it will beapparent that business activities are in fact supported by thecoordinated operation of several business facilities, which tend to becontrolled by the business.

The possibilities of activities in which a business enterprise canengage seem to be as endless as the creativity of enterprise in society.In fact, even if two business organizations engage in similaractivities, the two business organizations may be organized in acompletely different way, each utilizing very different types ofbusiness facilities. Accordingly, a principal challenge in implementingbusiness processes in the online computing environment is how torepresent a business and its associated business facilities in theunderlying computing application.

Generally, the activities of a single business enterprise can be modeledin a manner which is consistent with the existence and utilization ofone or more business facilities. Little reuse of computing logic canoccur for different business enterprises as the type, number andarrangement of facilities can vary from business enterprise to businessenterprise. In fact, one can see that with all of the complexity of thecomputing models for the modern business enterprise, each business mustreside in its own computing environment to support and automate itsrespective business processes. Moreover, because of the uniqueness ofthe processes of each business facility, each business facilityfrequently must be implemented within its own computing infrastructure,using its own computing resources.

Presently, the model of the single business enterprise can beimplemented electronically through the use of an e-commerce suite.Conventional e-commerce suite product offerings include a virtualstorefront designer, an application server, database management system,and a messaging system. The virtual storefront designer can be used todevelop the user interface components and underlying logic for operatinga virtual storefront. The logic and user interface together can bedeployed through the use of the application server, database managementsystem and messaging system to form a single site. In all cases, thesingle site can include the model for only a single storefrontoperation.

Nevertheless, it would seem logical that substantial cost, maintenanceand performance advantages could derived through the co-location ofmultiple storefront operations in a single site. In fact, it would bedesirable, if possible, to co-locate the underlying computing resourcesof business facilities, notwithstanding that each co-located businessfacility may be relied upon by one or more different businessoperations. In this regard, it is to be understood that a large businessenterprise can have multiple business lines, each operatingindependently of one another. Alternatively, in a managed hostingenvironment, it can be cost effective to manage multiple e-commercesystems for different businesses in a single computing platform. Ineither case, conventional e-commerce suite technologies cannot segregatethe business activities of different facilities from one another in asingle site. As a result, a single suite effectively can host only asingle, logical business operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the art in respectto deploying e-commerce systems supporting a business operation andprovides a novel and non-obvious method, system, architecture andapparatus for co-locating multiple e-commerce systems supportingrespective business operations in a single, host computing platform. Ane-commerce systems host computing platform which has been configured inaccordance with the present invention can include a server computingdevice having storage and network connectivity to at least one remoteclient computing device over a computer communications network. Anapplication server further can be disposed in the server computingdevice. Finally, a defined business application operation architecturecan be configured for concurrently deploying multiple different businessoperation applications through the application server in the servercomputing device.

In accordance with the present invention, an e-commerce systemsarchitecture can include an instantiable owning business logic componentderived from an abstract business definition and one or moreinstantiable business element components configured for aggregationunder the control of a business facility instance. The business facilityinstance can include a coupling to an instance of the owning businesslogic component. Finally, the architecture can include an instantiablepartner business component derived from the abstract businessdefinition. In particular, the instantiable partner business componentcan include a configuration for limited access to selected ones of theinstantiable business element components aggregated under the control ofthe business facility instance.

In the architecture of the present invention, each of the instantiablebusiness element components can include an association with at least oneof an asset, a business policy and an algorithmic process. Importantly,an instantiable business provisioning hub component can be configuredfor association with at least one business facility instance. Finally,the instantiable owning business logic can include logic for subscribingto an authorization domain having registration policies and accesscontrol policies.

The architecture of the present invention can be utilized to support aco-locatable e-commerce system. The co-locatable e-commerce system caninclude a root organization component and a user organization componentcontrolled by the root organization component. The co-locatablee-commerce system also can include a first selling organizationcomponent which can be controlled by the root organization component.The first selling organization component also can have a configurationenabling the component to be accessed by the user organizationcomponent. Finally, the co-locatable e-commerce system can include atleast one other selling organization component which can be controlledby the root organization component and which further can have aconfiguration for permitting access to the other selling organizationcomponent by the user organization component. The user organizationcomponent can include a shopper organization component. The userorganization component further can include an administrativeorganization component.

The first selling organization component can include a business toconsumer component. The first selling organization component also caninclude one or more reseller organization components, and a huborganization component configured to manage assets accessed by thereseller organization components. The hub organization can include anasset organization component configured to manage assets accessed by thereseller organization components; and, a management organizationcomponent configured to manage access to the assets by the resellerorganization components.

A method of deploying multiple e-commerce systems in a single computingplatform can include the steps of locating a first instance of abusiness logic component for a first business operation in the singlecomputing platform; and co-locating a second instance of a businesslogic component for a second business operation with the first instanceof the business logic component in the single computing platform. Themethod further can include the step of associating at least one instanceof a first business facility with the first instance of the businesslogic component; and, associating at least one instance of a secondbusiness facility with the second instance of the business logiccomponent.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a computing platform configuredfor deploying multiple e-commerce systems for different businessoperations;

FIG. 2 is an object diagram illustrating an e-commerce architecture fordeploying multiple e-commerce systems for different business operationsin the computing platform of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a hierarchical diagram of a B2C e-commerce system implementedaccording to the architecture of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a hierarchical diagram of a multi-reseller e-commerce systemregulated through a management hub and implemented in a single, hostcomputing platform according to the architecture of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 5 is a hierarchical diagram of a mixed multi-reseller and B2Ce-commerce system regulated through a management hub and implemented ina single, host computing platform according to the architecture of FIG.2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for co-locatingmultiple business operations in a single, host computing platform. Inaccordance with the present invention, a business facility can beprogrammatically defined so that one or more instances of a businessfacility can be created by different business operations in thecomputing platform. Each business facility can include one or morebusiness elements, which when combined, provide the functionality of thebusiness facility. To that end, each business element can include assetsmanaged in and by the facility, policies for interacting with theassets, and logic defined for interacting with the facility.

Different business operations can be defined in terms of the underlyingbusiness facilities and their constituent business elements. In thisregard, for each business operation, the requisite number andarrangement of business elements can be instantiated and renderedoperable to support the business operation. Consequently, by providing acommon architecture for supporting multiple, different businessoperations, multiple different business operations can be co-located ina single, host computing platform. As such, several previouslyunattainable advantages can be realized including cost-savings, ease ofmanagement and performance enhancement.

In more particular illustration of the foregoing inventive arrangement,FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a computing platform configuredfor deploying multiple e-commerce systems for different businessoperations. The computing platform can include a computing server 110coupled to one or more computing clients 130 over a computercommunications network 120. The computing server 110 can be configuredto host one or more e-commerce systems representative of one or morerespective business operations.

The computing server 110 can include an application server 160programmed to host and manage a distributable application over thenetwork 120. The computing server 110 further can include a data store140 configured to store an application interface 150 to one or moreapplications 180 operating through the application server 160.Importantly, the computing server 110 also can include a definedbusiness operation application architecture 170. Specifically, instancesof the business operation application architecture 170 can be createdthrough the application server 160 to support corresponding businessoperations. Consequently, multiple business operations can be co-locatedwithin the platform of FIG. 1.

As a more specific illustration, FIG. 2 is an object diagramillustrating an e-commerce architecture for deploying multiplee-commerce systems for different business operations in the computingplatform of FIG. 1. The architecture can include one or more businesselements 235. Each of the business elements 235 can be an aggregation ofone or more assets 240, one or more policies 245 and one or morealgorithmic processes 250. The assets 240 can include data stored on afile system graphics files, markup language documents, and server pages.The assets 240 further can include data stored in a database such asmember, catalog, and order information. The business policies 245, bycomparison, can include contract policies that determine the price ofproducts. Finally, the algorithmic processes 250 can include commandsand tasks that perform business logic and render views.

One or more of the business elements 235 can be grouped together as afacility fragment 230. The facility fragment 230 can be private orshareable. Notably, a business facility 225 can create one or morefacility fragments 230 in furtherance of the activities of the businessfacility, such as the operation of an on-line store. In a preferredaspect of the invention, the facility 225 can be modeled as an on-linestore. Notably, the assets 240 can be used to present a visual interfaceto the business activity to end users. The business policies 245 and thealgorithmic processes, in turn, can be programmed to drive the processflow of the business activity, to enforce the rules of the businessactivity, and to define the capabilities of the business activity.

A business 205 can be composed from one or more facilities 225 and thebusiness 205 can subscribe 280 to an authorization domain 260. Theauthorization domain 260 can provide access control to determine thoseusers allowed to create, update, delete or invoke the various businesselements 235 of a business 205. In this regard, the authorization domain260 can include both registration policies 265, and also access controlpolicies 270.

Notably, a business 205 can be an owning business 210 or a partnerbusiness 215. An owning business 210 can include a business whichmaintains control over all of its associated facilities 225. An exampleof an owning business can include a Business to Consumer (B2C) storewhere the merchant supplies and control all the file assets, dataassets, business policies, and algorithmic processes. A partner business215, by comparison, can include a business which has only limitedcontrol over its facilities 225. A partner business 215 can include, forinstance, a merchant who is acting as a reseller for part of a catalog.In this case, the partner business 215 can supply its own assets 240 andbusiness policies 245 that provides a different look and feel to thecatalog, though the data and algorithm processes can be accessed fromshareable facility fragments 230 not controlled by the partner business215.

To maintain control over shareable facility fragments 230, a businessprovisioning hub 255 can be included in the architecture of FIG. 2. Thebusiness provisioning hub can control one or more shareable facilityfragments 230. The business provisioning hub 255 also can control itsown facility 225 which can provide self-management features to allow apartner business 215 to register itself and to obtain shareable assets.The business provisioning hub 255 can have an association with an owningbusiness 210 which can subscribe to facility creation policies 275 thatgovern what self-management operations a partner business 215 is allowedto perform and the rights of the partner business 215 in managing itsown facilities 225.

Using the artifacts illustrated in the architecture of FIG. 2,e-commerce systems can be implemented and deployed in a single, hostingplatform, which e-commerce systems can range from a simple B2C onlinebusinesses to very complex channel management deployments. For instance,FIG. 3 is a hierarchical diagram illustrating a B2C e-commerce systemimplemented according to the architecture of FIG. 2. In the diagrambusinesses are represented as organizations, shown as ovals. In acomputing environment all the businesses are owned by a singleorganization known as the Root Organization 310. The Root Organization310 can control other businesses, but the Root Organization 310 does notcontrol in many cases its own facilities.

The User Organization 320 can control an administrators organization 340and a shopper organization 350. The User Organization 320 further cancontrol other organizations that contain users because, if there is needto integrate with external user repositories such as an LDAP directory,then the other non-user organizations need not be persisted to LDAP.Rather, in the case of an LDAP integration, the User Organization 320can map to the LDAP root organization. The Seller Organization 330,unlike the User Organization 320, can control the B2C Organization 360which itself controls a standalone facility.

The facility controlled by the B2C Organization 360 can contain businesselements that enable the B2C Organization 360 to operate an onlinestore. In this regard, shoppers 380 can browse the wares of the B2COrganization 360 by electronically referencing the B2C store front 390.The pages of the B2C store front 390 that the shoppers 380 can browsetypically can be composed from the B2C file assets 355. For example, theB2C file assets can include server pages, markup and graphic images. Thedata 365 obtained by the file assets 355 can include userpersonalization data, product data, pricing data and the like.

The Business Policies 345 limit the type and content of informationwhich can be displayed to the shoppers 380, such as prices for products.The shoppers further can perform any activities that are part of the B2Calgorithmic processes 325 such as executing a command to add a new itemto a shopping cart, or to check out from the store, provided that thisis allowed by the access control policies 335 governed by the B2CAuthorization Policies 315 to which the B2C business subscribes.Finally, shoppers 380 associated with the shopper organization 350 andadministrators 370 associated with the administrators organization 340participate in a particular role in the business operations, which inconjunction with the access control policies 335 determine whatoperations a user is allowed to perform when interacting with thebusiness operation.

While FIG. 3 depicts a simpler B2C e-commerce system deployment, theinvention is not so limited and more complex arrangements are madepossible by the architecture shown in FIG. 2. As an example, FIG. 4 is ahierarchical diagram of a multi-reseller e-commerce system regulatedthrough a management hub and implemented in a single, host computingplatform according to the architecture of FIG. 2. As before in the caseof the simple B2C system, in the multi-reseller system depicted in FIG.3, a Root Organization 410 can own a User Organization 415. In addition,the Root Organization 410 can own a Re-Seller Organization 420 and HubOrganization 425, which can be associated with a Re-Seller RegistrationPolicy 490.

The Re-Seller Organization 420 can include a multiplicity of resellingorganizations 440, 445 (only two shown for purposes of simplicity), eachproviding the operative functionality of a virtual store 470, 475 usingthe business element mechanism of the architecture of the presentinvention. Notably, the reselling organizations 440, 445 do not in ofthemselves control their inventory assets. Rather, the resellingorganizations 440, 445 merely access the assets of the AssetOrganization 450 as a partner business rather than an owning business.

The User Organization 415 can control both an AdministrativeOrganization 430 and a Shopper Organization 435. The AdministrativeOrganization 430 can provide a role for the administrators 460 withwhich the administrators 460 can access and managing the operations ofthe reselling organizations 440, 445. The Shopper Organization 435, bycomparison, can include the shoppers 465 empowered to shop the virtualstores 470, 475 provided by the reselling organizations 440, 445. Inthis regard, to the shoppers 465, the virtual stores 470, 475 appear asif to own the inventory assets managed by the Asset Organization 450 andpurchase transactions with the reselling organizations 440, 445 appearto be seamless from the perspective of the shoppers 465.

Importantly, the Hub Organization 425 provides management capabilitiesto allow the partner businesses to self-register themselves to accessthe assets and functionality managed through organizations controlled bythe Hub Organization 425. The management capabilities are provided bythe Management Organization 455 and all of its artifacts providedthrough the “Management Store” 485. Separately, the Hub Organization 425can provide through the Asset Organization 450 those business elementsthat can be used by the reselling organizations 440, 445 through an“Asset Store” 480.

In operation, a business partner can register by visiting the ManagementStore 485 provided by the Management Organization 455. As part of theregistration process a partner business can be created. For example, thepartner business can be a reselling organization 440, 445. Notably, thepartner business can be bootstrapped with an administrator who has beengiven administrative roles as defined by the registration policies 490.These administrative roles allow the business partner to createadditional administrators 460 to manage its customers, and administratorits store. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the administrators 460 can beowned by the Administrative Organization 430. Also, the created businesspartner can be given access to use the shareable resources owned by theAsset Organization 450 to host within the store of the business partner.

Significantly, the architecture of FIG. 2 can permit additionalcombinations of business operations, such as multi-reseller and directB2C configurations (as well as B2B configurations) in a single, hostcomputing platform. In this regard, each new business operation can beadded as an organization owned by the root organization. While theseller organizations can control their own assets, just the same theseller organizations can access the assets of business partnerorganization through a management hub. In this way, the operations ofthe different businesses can coexist in a single host computing platformwithout requiring separate computing facilities for each businessoperation.

Specifically, FIG. 5 is a hierarchical diagram of a mixed multi-resellerand B2C e-commerce system regulated through a management hub andimplemented in a single, host computing platform according to thearchitecture of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, a multi-reseller e-commercesystem can be coupled to the Root Organization 510 which can own a firstUser Organization 515A for the multi-reseller e-commerce system. Inaddition, the Root Organization 510 can own a Re-Seller Organization 520and Hub Organization 525, which can be associated with a Re-SellerRegistration Policy 590.

The Re-Seller Organization 520 can include a multiplicity of resellingorganizations 540, 545 (only two shown for purposes of simplicity), eachproviding the operative functionality of a virtual store 570, 575 usingthe business element mechanism of the architecture of the presentinvention. Notably, the reselling organizations 540, 545 do not in ofthemselves control their inventory assets. Rather, the resellingorganizations 540, 545 merely access the assets of the AssetOrganization 550 as a partner business rather than an owning business.

The User Organization 515 can control both an AdministrativeOrganization 530 and a Shopper Organization 535. The AdministrativeOrganization 530 can provide a role for the administrators 560 withwhich the administrators 560 can access and managing the operations ofthe reselling organizations 540, 545. The Shopper Organization 535, bycomparison, can include the shoppers 565 empowered to shop the virtualstores 570, 575 provided by the reselling organizations 540, 545. Inthis regard, to the shoppers 565, the virtual stores 570, 575 appear asif to own the inventory assets managed by the Asset Organization 550 andpurchase transactions with the reselling organizations 540, 545 appearto be seamless from the perspective of the shoppers 565.

As in the multi-reseller case of FIG. 4, the Hub Organization 525provides management capabilities to allow the partner businesses toself-register themselves to access the assets and functionality managedthrough organizations controlled by the Hub Organization 525. Themanagement capabilities are provided by the Management Organization 525and all of its artifacts provided through the “Management Store” 585.Separately, the Hub Organization 555 can provide through the AssetOrganization 550 those business elements that can be used by thereselling organizations 540, 545 through an “Asset Store” 580.

In addition to the multi-reseller e-commerce system, a B2C e-commercesystem can be deployed within the same host computing platform as shownin FIG. 5. In particular, the Root Organization 510 can control both asecond User Organization 515B and a Seller Organization 595. The SellerOrganization 595 can control the B2C Organization 620 which itselfcontrols a standalone facility. The facility controlled by the B2COrganization 620 can contain business elements that enable the B2COrganization 620 to operate an on-line store. In this regard, shoppers640 can browse the wares of the B2C Organization 620 by electronicallyreferencing the B2C store front 650.

It will be recognized by the skilled artisan that the business modelsimplemented in the host computing platform are not limited strictly tothe multi-reseller and B2C paradigm. Rather, it is also contemplatedthat other business models can be accommodated within the single hostcomputing platform of the present invention. For instance, abusiness-to-business (B2B) Direct model can be accommodated in which amerchant sells directly to companies.

Also, a B2B Direct Extended Sites model can be accommodated in whichmerchants can request for their stores to be hosted by an InternetService Provider (ISP). In the B2B Direct Extended Sites model, a newmerchant access the hosting hub of the ISP to request a new store.Subsequently, the new merchant can proceed to create a store. Finally,the new merchant can open the store to the general public. The ISP,however, can maintain control over shared assets for the hosted stores.

A Demand Chain model also can be accommodated in which a channel hubacts as the marketplace where resellers buy products from distributorsto resell to the consumers. The consumer direct stores, distributors,and their relationships can be dynamically created in the Demand Chainmodel. Similarly, a Supply Chain model can be accommodated in which asupplier hub acts as the marketplace bringing together suppliers andtheir buyers. The supplier stores and buyers in addition to theirrelationships with one another can be dynamically created in the SupplyChain model.

The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software. An implementation of the methodand system of the present invention can be realized in a centralizedfashion in one computer system, or in a distributed fashion wheredifferent elements are spread across several interconnected computersystems. Any kind of computer system, or other apparatus adapted forcarrying out the methods described herein, is suited to perform thefunctions described herein.

A typical combination of hardware and software could be a generalpurpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loadedand executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out themethods described herein. The present invention can also be embedded ina computer program product, which comprises all the features enablingthe implementation of the methods described herein, and which, whenloaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods.

Computer program or application in the present context means anyexpression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructionsintended to cause a system having an information processing capabilityto perform a particular function either directly or after either or bothof the following a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b)reproduction in a different material form. Significantly, this inventioncan be embodied in other specific forms without departing from thespirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, referenceshould be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoingspecification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A co-locatable e-commerce system comprising: a rootorganization component; a user organization component controlled by saidroot organization component; a first selling organization componentcontrolled by said root organization component and configured for accessby said user organization component; and, at least one other sellingorganization component controlled by said root organization componentand configured for access by said user organization component.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein said user organization component comprises ashopper organization component.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein saiduser organization component further comprises an administrativeorganization component.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein said firstselling organization component comprises a business to consumercomponent.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein said first sellingorganization component comprises: a plurality of reseller organizationcomponents; and, a hub organization component configured to manageassets accessed by said reseller organization components.
 15. The systemof claim 14, wherein said hub organization comprises: an assetorganization component configured to manage assets accessed by saidreseller organization components; and, a management organizationcomponent configured to manage access to said assets by said resellerorganization components.
 16. A method of deploying multiple e-commercesystems in a single computing platform, the method comprising the stepsof: locating a first instance of a business logic component for a firstbusiness operation in the single computing platform; co-locating asecond instance of a business logic component for a second businessoperation with the first instance of the business logic component in thesingle computing platform; associating at least one instance of a firstbusiness facility with said first instance of said business logiccomponent; and, associating at least one instance of a second businessfacility with said second instance of said business logic component. 17.The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: creating aninstance of a business provisioning hub component; associating saidinstance of said business provisioning hub component with an instance ofa third business facility; and, managing access by other instances ofbusiness logic components to said third business facility in saidinstance of said business provisioning hub component.
 18. A machinereadable storage having stored thereon a computer program for deployingmultiple e-commerce systems in a single computing platform, the computerprogram comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed bya machine cause the machine to perform the steps of: locating a firstinstance of a business logic component for a first business operation inthe single computing platform; co-locating a second instance of abusiness logic component for a second business operation with the firstinstance of the business logic component in the single computingplatform; associating at least one instance of a first business facilitywith said first instance of said business logic component; and,associating at least one instance of a second business facility withsaid second instance of said business logic component.
 19. The machinereadable storage of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: creatingan instance of a business provisioning hub component; associating saidinstance of said business provisioning hub component with an instance ofa third business facility; and, managing access by other instances ofbusiness logic components to said third business facility in saidinstance of said business provisioning hub component.
 20. A method fordeploying multiple e-commerce systems in a single computing platform,the method comprising the steps of: locating an instance ofbusiness-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce system in the single computingplatform; and, co-locating an instance of a multi-reseller e-commercesystem in the single computing platform.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein said B2C e-commerce system and said multi-reseller e-commercesystem share a same root node in a hierarchical arrangement ofe-commerce systems in the single computing platform.
 22. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising the step of adding at least one othere-commerce system to the single computing platform subsequent to havingdeployed said instances of said B2C and multi-reseller e-commercesystems.